College school boys holding flowers on their way to Sir Apirana's funeral, July 1950. Image: National Library.

​RARE and unique Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision footage of Tairāwhiti whānau between 1919 and the 1980’s will screen at the Lawson Field Theatre tomorrow.

Footage includes the welcome home for the Māori Pioneer Battalion (1919); the funeral of Sir Apirana Ngata (1950); the centennial hui of Ringatū church members at Muriwai (1967); Waihīrere Māori Group (1965); and the Governor General Sir Charles Ferguson at Rāhui Marae, Tikitiki (1926).

In conjunction with Turanga Health the collection of moving images and audio taonga will bring to life the voice of Tairāwhiti Māori during this time.

Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision (New Zealand Film Archive, Sound Archives, and Television New Zealand Archive) will screen the films at Turanga Health’s morning Kaumātua Programme, and then again for the public in the evening.

Turanga Health’s Kay Robin says Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision staff bringing the footage to Gisborne are interested in identifying more of the people in the moving images.

“We hope to fill the theatre. For many it will be a bombardment of memories. For others it will be fascinating look at the way Māori were depicted during the decades.”

A group of young mums are enjoying this Mother’s Day feeling fitter and better equipped to cope with whatever life delivers after getting some help from Turanga Health.

Mums and Bubs is a weekly work out for mothers of young children who’d normally find it difficult to find a way to exercise. Participants bring their pēpi (infants) in to the YMCA Gisborne and while they work up a sweat their toddlers beetle around the floor and play with supplied toys at the back of the room. At the edge of the class Turanga Health support staff cuddle babies while keeping an eye on fast-moving toddlers.

Mums and Bubs is part of Turanga Health’s Māmā and Pēpi wraparound service for Māori and non-Māori mothers and includes antenatal classes, help with breastfeeding, and social services support.

Turanga Health staff member Grace Donald says finding time to look after themselves can be a low priority for young busy mums. “We wanted to create a positive experience with exercise while eliminating any barriers such as transport, cost, confidence and childcare.”

Grace says sometimes the hardest thing about getting fit while looking after a baby is getting started and having to be separated from your baby. “But if baby is part of the class half of the problem is fixed - the only thing left is to push yourself to start. Just like Mother’s Day we want this programme to be all about the mums!"

While she talks Grace is rocking five-month-old Swayze Boyd-Kitai to sleep. His mother Cheev Boyd-Kitai thinks today’s class, SH’BAM is the ultimate way to exercise. The simple but seriously hot dance moves are set to a soundtrack of popular hits and everyone is having a blast.

“I came because I wanted to get fit and be healthy for my baby. I love exercising like this, I wouldn’t want to exercise in front of other people right now, so this is the bomb. It’s time to work on you.”

Cimarron Apiata is mum to Te Aotaihi. Her five-month old daughter Erana is being held by a Turanga Health staff member. Cimarron says she comes back every week because childcare isn’t a problem and it’s good to get out. “I like coming back. It’s a good work out, on the bike especially, good for my legs.”

As well as SH’BAM, fitness instructors have created spin classes (on stationary bikes) and light weights classes. YMCA Gisborne fitness coordinator Frauke Nieschmidt says she works with a lot of mothers and they are always telling her how hard it is to get back into exercise after you have just had a baby.

“These classes are getting mums back into fitness and giving them a chance to socialise with other mothers.”She says the 30 minute workouts are created with young, busy, mothers in mind. The dance moves aren’t complex, the weights aren’t loaded up, and the overall aim is to have fun. “Often they have been up for baby at night, they might be breastfeeding, so we take all that into consideration. All day they give themselves to their kids and so this is a treat for them. They deserve this.”

For more information about the Mums and Bubs fitness classes contact Grace Donald.

Turanga Health’s mobile clinic is in Wellington as part of the 2016 Mobile Health Rural Nurses Meeting. During a break from presentations to rural health staff, a range of the country’s mobile health vehicles went on display for public and politicians to check out.

Mobile health clinics like Turanga Health’s Piki te Ora (or ’The Bus’ as it is affectionately known) are used widely around the world as “patient care anywhere” is becoming the reality, says Turanga Health chief executive Reweti Ropiha.

Turanga Health’s mobile bus was purchased in 2011 and is used to manage patient clinics in rural areas. When people come inside and see it is a fully functional clinic room they are pleasantly surprised, says Mr Ropiha. “As well as nurse clinics, Turanga Health has an easier way of offering influenza immunisation in woolsheds; on-site work place health checks; and drug and alcohol advice to teenagers at sports events.”

Mobile healthcare vehicles have been operating in New Zealand since the early 90’s. These vehicles allow access to health care where the cost of having a bricks and mortar facility is prohibitive or the population is not large enough to fully utilise the service.

The unique opportunity to see inside some very specialised and healthcare vehicles was enjoyed by hundreds of people in Wellington. Piki te Ora was parked alongside mobile surgical and dental units, the mobile Breastscreen unit, a mobile diagnostics vehicle, and a lithotripsy bus.

Turanga Health nurse Liz Mackenzie, and service manager Dwayne Tamatea are attending the Mobile Health Rural Nurses Meeting. They will show off Piki te Ora during open days at Te Papa this Thursday and Friday.